Elevator-shaft-closing mechanism



(No Model.)

H. D. ADELL. ELEVATOR SHAFT; CLOSING MEGHANISM. 'N1o. 555,6 .70.

Patented Mar. 8, 1896.

INVENTGR C QM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY D. ADELL, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

ELEVATOR-SHAFT-CLOSING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 555,670, dated March 3, 1896. 7 Application filed August 28, 1895. Serial No. 560,761. (No model.)

To 00% whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY D. ADELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Elevator-Shaft-Olosing Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the improvement of elevator-shaft fire-doors, and the objects of my invention are to provide improved means for closing elevatorshaft floor-openings and provide other improvements, the details of construction of which will be more fully pointed out hereinafter. These objects I accomplish in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a Vertical section of an elevatorshaft having my improvements therein. Fig. 2 is a detail View in perspective illustrating the upper portion of the shaft-framework and means for supporting and operating the latches. Fig. 3 is a transverse section online at a: of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a sectional view through one of the springs which I employ, as hereinafter described.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

(t represents the various floors of a building through which are formed, as is usual, elevator passage-ways a. 1) represents the usual oppositely-located vertical elevator-car guideposts which are arranged to project within the shaftway on opposite sides thereof in the usual manner.

Arranged on opposite sides of the forward portions of the elevator-shaft are vertical standards I), and a similar standard b is supported at the rear of said shaft. Between each of the floors I pivot at oppositely-located points on the standards 6 and b corresponding ends of latch or catch fingers b the outer ends of the latter having hook-shaped terminations, as shown. As indicated more clearly in Fig. '2 of the drawings, the upper end ends of the posts I) are connected by a transverse frame-bar b, from the center of the length of which leads rearwardly a frame-arm b the outer end of the latter connecting with the upper side of the post 19 Upon the upper side and at each end of the bar b is journaledapulley c, and a similar pulley c is 'cated and hinged door-sections g.

journaled on the outer end portion of the frame-arm b (1 represents an endless rope or cable, which passes over the pulleys c, thence down on the outer sides of the frame-posts I) through suitable openings in the floors a. Beneath the lower floor a of the buildingthe rope d passes about two oppositely-located pulleys d, which are supported from a cellar-floor e. The rope d at a point between the upper pulleys c, has connected therewith one end of a rope d", the latter extending rearwardly, passing over the pulley c, thence extending downward adjacent to the post b and having its lower end connected through the medium of a coilspring (1 with the cellar-floor board 6.

With the center of the length of each of the latches b of the side posts I) is connected one end of a short cord f, the remaining end of which connects with the rope d at a point above the latch. Through the medium of short cords f the latches 11 of the post I) are in a similar manner connected with the cord (1 These short cords f and f are designed to normally suspend the latches b in inwardly-projecting and horizontal positions, as shown in the drawings.

The cords f on one side of the shaft are, as shown, made to run over small pulleys f which are suspended from the post I) on the corresponding side of the shaft.

g represents doors, one of which has its rear side hinged to the rear side of the elevator-shaft opposite each of the floors, said door g being designed to cover the rear half of said elevator-shaft when supported horizontally,

as hereinafter described and as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The remaining portion tion of the shaft-opening at each floor is adapted to be covered by two oppositely-lo- The edges of these door-sections g when elevated to a substantially vertical position are adapted to engage with the hook ends of the side latches 11 while the rear doors g areadapted to be similarly retained in a vertical position by engagement with the rear latches b of the posts N.

h represents a circular metallic casing, which is provided on its rear side with an attaching-fiange h, and which is provided in its periphery on its forward side with an opening 7L2. Through the center of this casing h passes a pin 7L3 and about said pin and at a distance therefrom is arranged a windingdrum 7L t represents a coil-spring which is contained in said winding-drum, one end of said spring being connected, as indicated, with the drum and the remaining end with the pin it. To the outer side of the drum is fixed the inner end of a flexible cord or strip 7a, which is wound upon the drum and the outer end of which passes outward through the opening 71/2 of the casing. One of these spring-cases which, as will readily be seen, is substantially of the construction employed in producing the well-known form of springactuated tape-measures, is secured to the inner side of each of the posts I) and U at a point above each of the doors g and g. The tension of the springs 2 contained in the easings 71, while it is such as to assist in the ole vation of the doors to a vertical position, is not sui'licient to raise said doors without additional force.

On each of the floors a adjacent to the elevator-shaft I provide a substantially vertical spring-strip m, the lower end of the latter being secured to the floor and the upper portion of said spring-strip being provided with a slight inward bow against which the ad joinin'g shaft-door is adapted to bear when elevated to a vertical position.

0 represents an elevator-car, which may be of any of the well-known forms, and which is adapted to be raised and lowered within the shaft in the usual manner. This elevatorcar is provided on its upper side and on opposite sides of its top portion with rollers 19, which are journaled in suitable brackets. The elevator-top is also provided with an up wardly-bowed spring-strip q.

The operation of opening and closing my improved elevator-shaft doors is substantially as follows: On the first up trip of the elevatorcar in the morning the closed doors g and g are opened by contact with the under sides thereof of the car-top strip or bumper q, and said doors are further raised to a vertical position by contact with the rollers 13, which project from opposite sides of the car. In thus raising the doors to vertical positions their upper edges are caused to engage, respectively with the hooked ends of the latches b the latter thus serving to retain said doors in their open positions. After the doors have thus been opened it is evident that the passageway through the shaft will remain open until it is desired to close the same, which may be readily accomplished by a downward pull on the rope (l on that side of the shaft on which the pulleys f are employed to cause a disengagement of the latches with the door edges.

This disengagement of the latches and doors, as will readily be seen, is effected by lifting said latches through the medium of the connected ropes d and (1 In dropping to their closed positions the doors are prevented from descending too rapidly and to an undesirable depth by the pulling action of the spring-actuated supporting-strips 70. It is evident that these supportin -strips are taken up on the drum 7% of the casin g h when said doors are open.

The spring-strips m are so arranged as to make sufficient pressure against the doors when the latter are raised to overcome any tendency of the doors to remain in the vertical position after the latches are released therefrom. It will be observed that the in,- ner edge of the door g is provided with a central recess 3, through which the usual carsupporting cable s may pass. As indicated in Fig. l of the drawings, I connect the cellarfloor beneath the elevator-shaft with the cord (1 by means of a coil-spring t, the latter serving to normally retain the rope in such position as to hold the latches horizontally.

From the construction and operation herein shown and described itwill be seen that means are provided for automatically opening the doors of an elevator-shaft and that improved means are provided for retaining the doors in an open position and closing said doors when desired.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

I11 an elevator-shaft the combination with the shaft and its framework, hinged doors g and g adapted to close said shaft at each floor of abuilding, a spring-actuated reel supported on the elevatorframework above each of said doors and cords connecting said doors and reels and adapted to wind upon the latter, of vertical frame side posts Z) and rear posts b latches pivoted as described to said posts between the floors, pulleys c and c journalcd above said posts, pulleys (l journalcd below said elevator-shaft, an endless rope d passing over said pulleys c and d, cords f connecting said endless rope and latches U, said cords f :10

passing over pulleys f on one side of the shaft and a cord (Z leading from the rope (I over the pulley c, the lower end of said cord having a spring connection with a stationary fra1nebase beneath the elevator-shaft and cords f connecting the latches of the post 11 with said rope d, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

HENR Y D. ADELL. Iuprescnce of- B. F. MARTZ, C. G. SHEPHERD. 

